Three serves: short, flick and high
What each serve is for, how they start from the same position, and simple drills to make them land where you want.
What each serve does
- The short serve crosses the net low, close to the top of the tape, and lands close to the front service line. It is the most common serve in doubles, and it is also used in men's singles, because it restricts the opponent's chance to attack.
- The flick serve looks like a short serve and then, at the last moment, the forearm and wrist send the shuttle quickly upwards and over the receiver towards the back of the court. In singles it can go to the back line; in doubles it must land inside the inner back line (the doubles long service line). Its job is to push the receiver back and catch them off balance when they expect a short serve.
- The high serve (long serve) is hit with a bigger swing, climbs very high and falls almost straight down at the back of the receiver's service box, near the back line in singles. It is used in singles, because it pushes the opponent to the back.
All three must respect the laws of the serve. See the serve: what makes it legal for the rules on contact height, the first contact with the base of the shuttle and the service boxes.
Step by step
- Same start for every serve. Stand with the racket foot forward, close to the centre line near the front service line (the stance can vary), and hold the shuttle at the feather tips in front of you. For a backhand serve, hold the racket out in front of the body (a forehand high serve usually starts from a sideways stance with the racket back). Keep both feet still and touching the floor until the shuttle is hit. For the short serve, see the short backhand serve.
- Short serve. Push the racket forward with a small, smooth movement. The shuttle should just clear the tape.
- Flick serve. Start as for a short serve. Just before contact, turn the forearm and snap the wrist so the shuttle goes up and back. Keep the movement small so it does not look different.
- High serve. Take a longer backswing and swing the racket forward and upwards with a full, relaxed arm. Aim high and deep rather than fast.
- Recover. After the serve, be ready for the return. Do not watch the shuttle fly.
The idea behind it
A good server has one starting position and one rhythm. The receiver should not be able to tell which serve is coming. The three serves answer three different things: stay low, surprise the receiver, push the opponent back.
Common mistakes and fixes
- The short serve is too high. If it passes high above the tape, the opponent attacks it. Lower the shuttle contact and make the movement smaller.
- The flick serve falls short. The flick needs a quick forearm turn. Practise it at slow speed first.
- The high serve lands short in the court. Swing higher and follow through. Aim beyond the middle of the court.
- Different rhythms. A server who hurries the flick serve gives it away. Keep the same timing.
Simple practice
- Put a cone, towel or line target in the front box and serve ten short serves to it.
- Do the same with ten flick serves and ten high serves aimed at the back.
- Mix: a partner stands in the receiver's place and, without being told, tries to name the serve as soon as it starts.
- Play games where the server scores an extra point if the receiver lets the shuttle drop in the back box of the correct court.
Limits
Which serve is the most useful depends on singles or doubles and on the receiver. The laws about the serve have precise height and position conditions, and the official text is the reference.
General practice advice: play within your limits and stop if something hurts.